Unless you’ve been living under an internet-devoid rock, you have probably noticed the recent uproar over Facebook “privacy.” The social media giant made some changes, with various confusing privacy implications that have everyone panicking. By default applications can access some personal details (that you might not want them to be able to access) simply because one of your friends has used the application. Then there’s the relatively harmless “Instant Personalization” feature, which lets a select group of sites pull profile data to customize your experience…but only if you agree to it on a site-by-site basis. (A lot of people have freaked-out over the new JavaScript widgets as well, even though they’re built entirely on the client side rather than the server, meaning Facebook is the only party seeing the contents.)

The good news is that there’s now an open-source bookmarklet that can scan your profile and recommend tweaks to lock-down your profile a bit, since Facebook’s privacy settings are so byzantine that few have the patience to wade through them. ReclaimPrivacy.org’s script runs a series of tests and gives you a convenient button to fix the problem if you so choose.

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http://stevenclark.com.au Steven Clark

The problem is that once Facebook have your data they have your data forever… so over and over they’ve shown their true greedy intentions of selling it. What makes anyone think they are sorrier than the last time? I don’t get it.

Facebook will grind everyone down to a new acceptance of what privacy and security are just like they redefined friends and like.

Do you trust the thug on the corner with your wallet because he apologised for the $5 he stole at the bakery?

http://www.webmaster-source.com Matt

Personally, I don’t care about Facebook “privacy” at all. From the beginning, when I signed up, I knew what I was getting into. Once something goes on the internet, it’s there forever. I have no expectation of privacy in a public place, and the internet is certainly a public place. (Even if Facebook were nice about their “privacy” settings, one of your friends could still copy a photo of you and post it somewhere more visible.)

The solution isn’t to worry over what Facebook is doing with your data, but to not post information you don’t want everyone to see.

http://www.gamesocket.geek.nz/ Craig

Shame it is not updated. Does not work. I was ready to share it on FaceBook. But Alas it is not compatible. *sigh*